The Role of Extracellular Vesicles from Human Macrophages on Host-Pathogen Interaction.

Luis A Arteaga-Blanco,Dumith Chequer Bou-Habib

doi:10.3390/ijms221910262

Luis A Arteaga-Blanco, Dumith Chequer Bou-Habib

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms221910262

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Abstract

The nano-sized membrane enclosed extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by virtually all cell types play an essential role in intercellular communication via delivering bio-molecules, such as nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and other molecules to recipient cells. By mediating an active and steady-state cell-to-cell communication, EVs contribute to regulating and preserving cellular homeostasis. On the other hand, EVs can also spread pathogen-derived molecules during infections, subverting the host immune responses during infections and thus worsening pathophysiological processes. In recent years, the biological functioning of EVs has become a widespread research field in basic and clinical branches of medical sciences due to their potential role in therapeutic applications for several diseases. This review aims to summarize the main recent findings regarding the implication of EVs shed by human macrophages (MΦ-EVs) and how they can modulate the host immune response to control or increase the damage caused by infectious agents. We will also present the methods used to describe MΦ-EVs, as well as the potential of these EVs as disease diagnostic tools for some human pathogens. We believe that an in-depth understanding of the host–pathogen interactions mediated by MΦ-EVs may trigger the development of innovative therapeutic strategies against infectious diseases.

Highlights

Many years later, facing the vast progress in understanding the macrophage role in homeostasis, researchers turn their minds to that remote sunny afternoon by the sea, when Elie Metchnikoff described and portrayed these cells for the first time
Extracellular vesicles from human macrophages have been on the central stage of many functional studies dealing with steady-state homeostasis or pathological conditions, especially in host-pathogen scenario
There is still much to be learned about their implication in the physio-pathogenesis of infectious disease, considerable knowledge has been gained in recent years

Summary

Introduction

Many years later, facing the vast progress in understanding the macrophage role in homeostasis, researchers turn their minds to that remote sunny afternoon by the sea, when Elie Metchnikoff described and portrayed these cells for the first time. EVs are implicated in intercellular communication without direct cell-to-cell contact trough the transport and transfer of bioactive molecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, metabolites, cytokines, chemokines, among other molecules, to recipient cells [3,4] (Figure 1). All these components are further processed to promote physiological or pathological alterations in recipient cells, including modulation of the effector activities of cells of the immune system [4,5]. More research focused on the comprehension of the mechanisms that mediate the biological effects of EVs on their cellular targets under specific physiological or pathological condition could clarify open questions in the field of

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